Synaptic organizers: synaptic adhesion-like molecules (SALMs)

Heli Liu

doi:10.1016/j.sbi.2019.01.002

Synaptic organizers: synaptic adhesion-like molecules (SALMs)

Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2019 Feb:54:59-67. doi: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.01.002. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Author

Heli Liu¹

Affiliation

¹ State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address: liuheli@hsc.pku.edu.cn.

PMID: 30743183
DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.01.002

Abstract

Synaptic adhesion-like molecules (SALMs), also known as leucine-rich repeat and fibronectin III domain-containing proteins (LRFNs), are a family of synaptic adhesion molecules that consist of five members. SALMs exhibit functions in regulating neurite outgrowth and branching, synapse formation, and synapse maturation. Recent clinical studies have shown an association of SALMs with diverse neurological disorders. In this review article, we summarize structural mechanisms of the interaction of SALMs with leukocyte common antigen (LAR) family receptor tyrosine phosphatases (LAR-RPTPs) for synaptic activity, based on recent advances in the structural biology of SALMs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / chemistry
Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / metabolism*
Humans
Signal Transduction
Synapses / metabolism*

Substances

Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal